Poland blocks anti-death penalty day

Poland's conservative government blocked EU plans to create a
European day against the death penalty, saying any such event
should also condemn abortion and euthanasia.

At a meeting of EU interior and justice chiefs, Polish ministers
sunk proposals to mark on October 10 the long-standing abolition of
capital punishment in the 27-nation bloc, by demanding a wide
debate on the issue.

"We believe that abortion and euthanasia are threats to our
societies. If we discuss the death penalty, we should approach the
subject in a broader way and debate the protection of life," deputy
Polish Justice Minister Andrzej Duda told reporters.

Poland's Roman Catholic ruling Kaczynski twins - Lech, the
president, and Jaroslaw, the prime minister - have said they are
personally in favour of the death penalty, although they do not
plan to reinstate it.

"I don't think next October 10 we will have a celebration of the
day against the death penalty," Italian Justice Minister Clemente
Mastela told a news briefing, calling Poland's action arrogant and
its arguments weak.

Italy has led an international campaign for a moratorium on the
death penalty and strongly supported the proposed EU day.

Poland was the only member state to voice opposition to the plan
during an informal debate, but EU president Portugal decided not to
put it to a vote since unanimity was required.

The dispute had become emblematic of tense relations between Warsaw
and Brussels in the run-up to Poland's early parliamentary election
on October 21.

"Now its is really difficult. Now it is a very sensitive political
moment for Poland, there is a quite significant event in a few
weeks," EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini
said.

The Kaczynskis' Law and Justice party, which won power two years
ago, is campaigning on a traditional pro-family platform and
promises to root out corruption.

It also receives support from the staunchly Catholic and anti-EU
Radio Maryja.

Poland, along with Ireland and Malta, bans abortion on demand, and
its priests and politicians often condemn what they call a culture
of death permitting euthanasia in countries such as the
Netherlands.

Portuguese Justice Minister Alberto Costa said in the light of
Poland's opposition, the presidency would look for another way to
celebrate the abolition of the death penalty in the bloc.